Canines In Action, Inc.

26/06/2024

I've never seen this before! The FIRED UP, FRANTIC, AND FREAKED OUT audiobook is on a 75% discount right now. That's just $3.25 USD for the whole audiobook! Please feel free to share the link with friends or clubs or whoever, to grab while the sale is on.

I don't set the price on this edition, so I don't know when it will happen again. Go get it! 😃

Some dogs need a little help. Some dogs are afraid, or excited, or reactive. Dogs that 'don't listen' and 'go crazy' don't live the lives we-or they-want. Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out can change that. Simple steps and an accessible, conversational tone from award-winning, internationally-known...

15/05/2024

Can I brag for a second? (It's also a training PSA -- but it's also a brag. 😉 )

I just took my dog in today for an eye exam and, she needs eye drops! But here's the fun part:

I was with a new-to-me vet, and we walked together through our cooperative care procedures. Undómiel presented her face for numbing drops, stain, the tonometry gadget, and more, and she opted out only once and only for a couple of seconds. She was a very good demo for cooperative care training!

(The tech at the end said Undómiel was the best! I won't ask anyone here to agree, lest your own animals overhear, but she was pretty good. 😉 )

So that's all the bragging parts 🙂 BUT this post is also to nudge you to go ahead and work on whatever cooperative care behavior you've thought about, but have put off. It's so much easier to train when you aren't under the pressure of a critical care deadline, and you're never going to regret fluency.

Happy training!

30/04/2024

Yes, this! I carry treats for emergencies the same way I carry p**p bags or an extra leash -- because if something happens, I'd rather be prepared. Maybe we have a bad experience and need a quick tone shift, maybe I need a quick response from a major distraction and I want to emphasize that the correct response was worth it so I get it the next time too, maybe I just like enriching my pets' lives.

Maybe I'll use food for a situation that someone else wasn't prepared for (off-leash dog, dropped-leash dog, scared dog, etc.)

Frequently I don't use the treats I carry, but it didn't hurt me to carry them.

Or maybe I'll just hand out treats for fun because I can and we all enjoy it.

And sometimes I snack on a hike, too.

12/04/2024

Registration closing soon! This new VIRTUAL program does not require travel and is more flexible regarding your partner dogs, so it's great for those who have not been able to attend a traditional workshop series.

Times are listed in Central but obviously you can attend from ANY timezone. :)

25/03/2024

An unusual moment this weekend: I was at Indiana Comic Con to sell and sign my fantasy books, but I had a couple of my training books at the side of the table as well. Someone passing pointed and ran over: "They have Social, Civil, and Savvy! That's the best book!"

It was so great to see that my non-fiction got some attention at the comic con -- and to hear that it's doing good in the world! :)

07/03/2024

Feel free to share this with friends in need!

Join us Saturday at 10:30 AM for an interactive session with certified trainer, Connie Swaim with Connie Swaim Behavior Services. This class will take place at Project One Studio, 3151 Kirkbride Way, Unit C, Indianapolis IN 46222.

🐕🧠 Learn how to tackle common dog behaviors like jumping, shyness, leash pulling, and more!

Whether you've recently adopted a dog, want to enhance your training skills, are considering adding a dog to your family, or struggling with your current dog, this FREE class is perfect for you!

⚠️This is a humans only class, so leave those furry friends at home!⚠️

RSVP now at [email protected].
Donate to help support this class at: https://friendsofindyanimals.org/donate

31/01/2024

Last week I took my dogs in for their annual wellness exam. We had the usual shuffle and reminder -- "No, it's Penny's turn on the exam table now, you wait on your station for your turn" -- but overall, things went very well. Both dogs stationed to wait their turn politely (and were paid with treats for their quiet downs), and both dogs participated willingly in their voluntary blood draws, shots, and physical exams.

The vet tech said the process was "very refreshing," not having to struggle with a scared animal. I was happy because my pets were happy--we don't have pets to scare them!--and because we didn't have to wrestle two large dogs.

Meanwhile, I watched a dozen dogs dragged or carried to exam rooms, scrabbling on the floor to get away or crying in distress. And that's sad, because it's so unnecessary.

And it's not just about the treats! Many of those dogs were offered treats and were still scared. Treats are great, and I'm absolutely going to use them, but it's even more about the sense of predictability and control, that the dogs are active participants doing a trained behavior, rather than that the exam just happens to them.

Guys, over the weekend I watched a large male lion participate in a voluntary blood draw. There's no reason our pets need to be so upset.

Does trained participation make that big a difference, over just holding the dog and getting it done?

Friends, I have to PAY my dogs to wait their turn to get a shot.

This is not as hard as people usually assume. You can teach your dog to participate in -- not tolerate -- regular veterinary procedures, and vet visits will be simpler, faster, more effective (better exams on a still, cooperative dog!), and less stressful for the rest of your lives.

Want to make things better for your next vet visit? Talk to me.

(Pictured: Undómiel supervising my presentations at ClickerExpo.)

04/11/2023

Life hack: If you cannot have cats and miss purring, a Labrador snoring on your feet makes a vibratey substitute.

Follow me for more pet tips.

23/10/2023

THIS. We so often ask dogs to tolerate instead of managing and parenting as we should. I see so many "cute" photos shared on my social media network that chill me as a professional trainer.

Be the adult in the room. That's not the child, and it's not the dog, that's you.

Especially as we're going into holiday gathering season, make sure someone is specifically assigned to dog-child management while others cook or prep, rather than just hoping things are okay.

And if you have questions or concerns, talk to a trainer in advance, rather than calling the day after the incident.

No one would look at this picture and think it was cute. No one would look at this picture and say “omg look how much the baby loves the stove! Look how good the stove is being to the baby! Get a picture!!” And if the baby got burned by the stove, no one would blame the stove. It was, after all, just being a stove.

Yet, this is what I see when I see pictures of babies or children crawling on or towards dogs, leaning on them, grabbing them, and invading their space. I don’t find it cute or charming, I find it dangerous. No matter how tolerant a dog appears to be, sometimes that tolerance runs out, or the child tries to do the same thing to another dog with less tolerance and the worst happens. I’m often on the receiving end of the panicked, distressed and terrified phone calls after these events, and it’s heartbreaking to say the least.

As soon as babies start to get mobile we start talking to them about safety with things like hot stoves, outlets, busy roads, fireplaces. We use safety measures like gates or covers and always supervise. We need to be doing the exact same thing with our dogs.

Dogs only have their body language to tell us they are uncomfortable, and often times the beginning signs are incredibly subtle. Ignoring these, or worse punishing them, can lead to a dog feeling they have no other option than to bite or snap. Even worse, when we don’t teach our children respect and boundaries around dogs, we set them up to potentially get hurt. And when that happens, it’s not because of bad parenting, it’s truly because of a lack of education and understanding.

The other thing I hear often is “well if he didn’t like it he would move” and that’s not always true. Dogs sometimes don’t know they can or should move. We need to teach them that coping skill and reward and respect them for that choice.

Dogs and children living happily together is possible. Bonds can still be formed even if there are boundaries and your child can have an amazing relationship with your dog even without kissing them or hugging them. Management, active supervision and structure are all keys so success to everyone can live under the same roof happily, and more importantly, safely.

- Helen St. Pierre, No Monkey Business Dog Training
10/12/18

13/10/2023

Notice how your dog often chooses to walk along edges? They collect scents! This spot, at the base of a slope and along higher vegetation, has a denser trove of scents than the open grass. It's a logical choice for Penny on her relaxed walk during a workshop break.

02/10/2023

A massive shout out to Miki Saito and her incredible staff, with Noriko Fujita, Rina Kaneko, and Makoto, Hazuki, Haruka, Chie, and Ran. They hosted an AMAZING event and somehow managed over 100 attendees both in person and online while simultaneously dealing with me. 🤣 どもありがとうございました！めちゃすごいです！またね！

30/08/2023

I'm heading back to Tōkyō soon, and I can't wait! I'll be speaking with Miki Saito, Kpa-Ctp, Cpdt-Ka and BAW Academy, about the science and practices of socialization. I'm so pleased!

04/07/2023

Hey, I'm going to shill for a moment.

If you like continuing education in practical behavior and positive reinforcement solutions, then Grisha Stewart's Academy Diamond membership is a good deal. It's got an INSANE number of webinars and online courses, and many more added regularly (seriously, I cannot keep up - but that's okay because replays are included) for a monthly payment that's what most of us pay for a single webinar.

Here's the shill part -- tomorrow the price increases. Still very reasonable! but joining by July 4 locks in the lower rate of $29, for life.

Courses include my training voluntary eyedrops course, talks on mental health in various species (including our own), webinars on play styles and play in training, sport-applicable training, relationships and pet work, and a hundred other topics. Link below.

The photo is a statue of Alexander The Great and his famed beloved horse Bucephalus, taken while I'm on vacation. I don't think Alexander was actually into tackless riding, but he could have been with the right webinars and courses!

28/06/2023

It's here! My new course is open for enrollment!

This is a Karen Pryor Academy LIVE course that lets me geek out enthusiastically about a cause I'm invested in -- using socialization and familiarization properly to give dogs the best chance at fitting into human society and becoming fantastic family members.

The course is entirely online, in both pre-recorded lessons and real-time discussion and feedback. Enrollment is available with coaching for your own training (Excel) or auditing with discussion access (Engage).

(Socialization is for the specific socialization period of brain development; after that narrow window, the process is familiarization. We'll talk about both!)

10/05/2023

Yep!

13/04/2023

The Indianapolis series for the Professional Dog Trainer Program is open! Space is limited, and early application is recommended. (Link below.)

13/04/2023

This is so true -- especially the last part about us being suckers! XD

How to Get the Most Out of Your Dog Trainer

1. Use the method of contact they recommend, and then, wait for your trainer's response. Sending an email, a Facebook Message, and leaving multiple voicemails or texts after business hours will not result in a faster response. Ever.
2. If scheduling an appointment directly through them rather than through a scheduling app, respond to suggested times/dates promptly.
3. Avoid asking for availability outside your trainer's business hours. Your trainer has business hours for a reason. Even though your situation is dire and you need immediate help, please understand that so does everyone else who scheduled their lessons before you.
4. Make every effort to attend the appointment you've made. Don't cancel it for non-urgent/non-critical reasons, especially with little notice. Show your trainer that training is a priority for you, and respect your trainer's time. They don't get paid for talking to you, doing admin setup for you, having you schedule a block of their time, and then NOT giving you a lesson.
5. Do your homework. Seriously. We know when you don't. It's a waste of your money when we have to give you the same lesson each week, and you will make very slow progress.
6. If you have problems with the homework, reach out to your trainer. We LOVE to help you succeed! Similarly, if your trainer gives you the option of submitting videos of training sessions for midweek feedback, please take full advantage of this amazing opportunity to get free lessons!!!
7. When you do ask midweek questions that your trainer takes unpaid time to answer and/or when your trainer sends you a thorough written review of your lesson plan, acknowledge receipt with a thank you. You need not take a lot of time or show your appreciation extravagantly, but a simple acknowledgement of your trainer's personalized efforts will help them love helping you.

A good trainer will always do their best to help you succeed, no matter how much or little you work, no matter whether or not you appreciate them. However, you and your dog will benefit tremendously by following the training plan you are paying for, and you can help your trainer love their work by being responsive, trainable, and appreciative. Trust me, we are suckers for the hard working, dedicated owner who wants to learn, and we just can't help ourselves from giving those folks extra time and effort off the clock.

08/04/2023

Every in-person , we have this silly contest called , lobbing treats into dog bowls of various point values. It's silly and it's fun and it raises a lot of money for a local charity each time. It's my known thing now, too, and you'll usually find me talking friendly smack and challenging attendees to beat my score. But it's all just for fun.

Except when it's for real. I have here a young dog with a big problem, and even eating has been a concern because of anxiety. If I place yummy food into his crate, he can't touch it for a long time, like an hour or much more. Too scary. But if I stay back and toss it...

These are definitely not the throws that land at the top of the Toss Your Cookies leaderboard -- but normally I'm not tossing high enough to clear the ex-pen that makes him feel safer from me but low enough to get inside the crate door, and sometimes trying to get under a dog's head without risking hitting him, and all while holding a zoomed-in shaky video camera on myself. I'm okay with these subpar throws -- and so is he. Or at least he's a lot less freaked out about them than my reaching in. (Note that he's still not eating them as I throw, but he will within 10-20 minutes.)

And yes, I do need the treats to go into the bowl, because I'm trying to entice him toward the medicine already in it, so I don't have to force-feed him and create more anxiety. Could we manage without precision throwing? Of course. But isn't it nice to have one more tool available?

(I'll be talking more about this puppy (and more!) in my upcoming KPA Live course on puppy socialization. Stay tuned for details!)